Police Charge Man in Bizarre I-66 Incident

Police have charged an Oakton man after he was involved in a crash on westbound Interstate 66 Monday evening before running out in front of traffic.

It all happened in the westbound lanes of I-66 just past the exit for business Rte. 234 (Exit 47), near Manassas, during the evening rush hour Monday.

Corbin G. Shannon, 21, of Oakton, was charged with reckless driving, destruction of property under $1,000, pedestrian on the interstate, and interfering with passing vehicles on a highway. Virginia State Police said he ran out in front of traffic after being involved in a two-vehicle crash during Monday evening's rush hour. 

According to a preliminary investigation by VSP, a Honda that had been stopped on the right shoulder of I-66 suddenly swerved into the westbound travel lane and struck a cargo van. The impact forced the Honda back off the roadway and into a cement Jersey wall on the right shoulder.

Eyewitnesses told a responding VSP trooper the van's driver got out to check on the driver of the Honda, when he jumped out of his vehicle and ran out into traffic traveling west on I-66. He then jumped onto a total of four westbound vehicles, smashing in the windshield of one of the vehicles, before eventually making it across the interstate to the opposite side of the roadway. 

The responding trooper found the driver of the Honda standing on the left shoulder of the westbound lanes of I-66 upon arrival. Shannon was transported to Fairfax Inova Hospital for treatment by helicopter, police said.

No serious injuries were reported; although, authorities said Shannon was held at the hospital overnight for observation. An investigation has revealed alcohol and drugs were not factors in the cause of the incidents, according to Virginia State Police Spokeswoman Corrine Gellar.

The incident closed the highway for about 30 minutes, causing heavy traffic delays.